ITALY: Pistol Shot Tempo

Lloyd’s odds on war between Britain and Italy relaxed last week from 11-to-7 against the conflict to 11-to-1. The two kingdoms were in dickering contact at Geneva (see p. 17). But in Rome cautious Dictator Mussolini figured on a “possible double cross” by Britain, France or both. Steaming up Italians to fury at sanctions as the “vilest and meanest” of measures, II Duce prepared to meet them after Nov. 18 by suppressing last week all publication of Italian trade and financial statistics, so that League States that wish to chisel on sanctions and trade with Italy anyhow may do so undetected.

“Long Live America!” roared Blackshirt youths, rampaging through Rome, Turin, Milan and other cities, “Long Live Germany!” As the popularity of nonLeague States mounted and strong epithets against the British flew, Rome’s haberdashery shop The Prince of Wales was forced to change its name to The Prince of Piedmont; the Hôtel d’Angleterre draped a Fascist banner over its name; gregarious Miss Babington removed from her window the provocative sign “English Teas”; and police averted the destruction by an enraged mob of the Eden Hotel—although aristocratic young Captain Eden is emphatically “not in trade.”

With pistol shot abruptness Italian “food profiteers” were whisked to jail, average Rome food prices downed slightly during the week, butchers were ordered to close shop Tuesdays and sell no beef Wednesdays, and II Duce rapped that “Fascist discipline” will keep Italians from overeating. Famed Count Volpi, stabilizer of the lira, again moved in Government circles which he left after one of the Dictator’s orders to “change the guard” (TIME, July 16. 1928). Italy’s tempo last week was definitely staccato—and the King came out openly for the War.

Said Vittorio Emanuele III, opening a new section of the University of Rome and engaging the fortunes of his Royal House: “In every phase of its history Rome has carried out its mission of civilization. Today Italy is following along the same path, more than ever united in a spontaneous effort to faith and will! The Nation is moved by justice and necessity in an action which the exigencies of Italy’s life, Italy’s security and Italy’s future impose upon it.”